Law Courses Catalog

NOTE: This course description is new for the 2017-2018 academic year. You may read the prior course description immediately below this new one. 

2017-2018

Description: Students participate directly in international environmental legal processes by preparing petitions and other documents for meetings of international conventions under the supervision of professors in the International Environmental Law Project (IELP). IELP’s practice focuses on climate change, international wildlife trade, trade and environment, and oceans and fisheries. Thus, IELP students may work on a wide range of projects relating to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the International Whaling Commission, and other international treaties. IELP represents a range of clients, including environmental organizations, governments, and international institutions. During this course, practical skills development will include, among other topics, negotiation in an international context, treaty drafting, treaty interpretation, development and management of client relationships, oral advocacy in an international context, cultural competency, lobbying, and planning, development, and strategy regarding project/campaign/case development. The specific practical skills honed each semester depend on IELP’s docket, but as a matter of course, regardless of our docket, students can expect to deepen their research, problem solving, analytical, and writing skills.

Students may take this course as a one-semester option for three credits or a two-semester option for six credits. Each week, IELP students are expected to attend and participate in a 2-hour classroom component, meet with a supervising attorney for up to one hour, and work on about 9 hours outside of class on average each week on cases as assigned. The class meets on Fridays. To get students prepared to engage quickly, class on the first two Fridays of both Fall and Spring semesters will meet for 4 to 5 hours. There are no prerequisites, although International Environmental Law and Environmental Law are helpful even if taken concurrently. Grading is on a pass/no pass basis. The course qualifies as a Writing Intensive Experience (WIE) on a case-by-case basis.

A student must have the professors’ permission before registering for this course. To do so, students must submit an application for admission to the course. Please refer to IELP’s website for information on how to apply: http://go.lclark.edu/IELP. Students must register by submitting an application no later than May 10. Submit your application to Professor Erica Lyman at ejt@lclark.edu.

May meet WIE writing requirement on a case-by-case basis.

See also: IELP Website

NOTE: This course description is new for the 2016-2017 academic year. You may read the prior course description immediately below this new one. 

2016-2017

Description: Students participate directly in international environmental legal processes by preparing petitions and other documents for meetings of international conventions under the supervision of professors in the International Environmental Law Project (IELP). IELP’s practice focuses on climate change, international wildlife trade, trade and environment, and oceans and fisheries. Thus, IELP students may work on a wide range of projects relating to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES), the International Whaling Commission, and other international treaties. IELP represents a range of clients, including environmental organizations, governments, and international institutions. During this course, practical skills development will include, among other topics, negotiation in an international context, treaty drafting, treaty interpretation, development and management of client relationships, oral advocacy in an international context, cultural competency, lobbying, and planning, development, and strategy regarding project/campaign/case development. The specific practical skills honed each semester depend on IELP’s docket, but as a matter of course, regardless of our docket, students can expect to deepen their research, problem solving, analytical, and writing skills. Between September 22 and October 5, Professors Lyman and Wold will travel to South Africa for CITES negotiations. All IELP students are welcome to participate in the meeting, although they must fund their own travel expenses. Those who do not attend the negotiations will continue working on their assignments.

Students may take this course as a one-semester option for three credits or a two-semester option for six credits. Each week, IELP students are expected to attend and participate in a 2-hour classroom component, meet with a supervising attorney for up to one hour, and work on about 9 hours outside of class on average each week on cases as assigned. The class meets on Fridays. To get students prepared to engage quickly, class on the first two Fridays of Fall semester will meet for 4 to 5 hours. There are no prerequisites, although International Environmental Law and Environmental Law are helpful even if taken concurrently. Grading is on a pass/no pass basis. The course qualifies as a Writing Intensive Experience (WIE) on a case-by-case basis.

A student must have the professors’ permission before registering for this course. To do so, students must submit an application for admission to the course. Please refer to IELP’s website for information on how to apply: http://go.lclark.edu/IELP. Students must register by submitting an application no later than May 30. Submit your application to Professor Erica Lyman at ejt@lclark.edu.

May meet WIE writing requirement on a case-by-case basis.

See also: IELP Website

NOTE: The below course description applied prior to the 2016-2017 academic year.

Description: Students participate directly in international environmental legal processes by preparing documents and materials for meetings of the parties to international conventions and organizations, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the International Whaling Commission, and NAFTA’s environmental commission. Students may also prepare submissions to international tribunals to enforce international environmental law or draft new international environmental treaties. These documents may be prepared on behalf of environmental organizations, governments, or international institutions.

Except in special circumstances, this is a full-year course for three credits each semester. Grading is on a pass/no pass basis.

A student must have permission to register for this course. To do so, students should submit an application for admission to the course (available on IELP’s website) no later than May 28, 2015. Students will receive notification as to whether they may register for the course.

Meets WIE writing requirement

Apply here